Windlass attachment for vehicle-brakes.



G, P. ORUTGHFIELD.

WINDLASS ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLE BRAKES.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.2B,1913.

1,0?5,902. Patented 0013.14, 1913.

ATTO R N EY fli TATE FAENT @FFTQ.

GEORGE PATTERSON CRUTCI-IFIELD, OF GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.

WINDLASS ATTACHMENT FOB VEHICLE-BRAKES.

Application filed February 28, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn P. GnU'roH- FIELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Greensboro, in the county of Guilford and State ofNorth Carolina, have invented a new and useful Windlass Attachment forVehicle-Brakes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a windlass attachment for vehicle brakes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensiveand eflicient windlass attachment adapted to be readily applied tovarious kinds of vehicles and to different styles or kinds of vehiclebrakes, and capable of enabling a brake to be applied with great force,and equipped with means for positively carrying the brake shoes out ofcontact with the wheels to relieve the former of wear when the brake isreleased.

A further object of the invention is to provide a windlass attachment ofthis character, designed particularly for use on farm wagons, hay racks,stock racks, and the like, especially where it has been the practice toapply the brake by means of a rope or rod, and adapted to be arrangedfor operation at either side or end of a vehicle, and capable of beingreadily transferred from one vehicle body or rack to another.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claimshereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure l is a side elevation of a wagon provided with awindlass attachment, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view through the windlass attachment. Fig. 3is a perspective view of the bearing bracket. Fig. 4 is a similar viewof the look ing dog or lever. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectionalview on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing in which is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

Serial No. 751,333.

illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates abearing bracket designed to be constructed of any suitable metal andcomprising a vertical bar or portion 2, an upper inwardly extendingapproximately L-shaped arm 3, and upper and lower outwardly extendingbearing arms 4 and 5, provided with vertically alined bearing openings 6and 7 for the reception of a windlass shaft 8. The vertical bar orportion 2 of the bearing bracket is adapted to fit against the outerface of one side 9 of a wagon body and being preferably of a length toextend from the upper edge to the lower edge thereof, and secured to thewagon body by upper and lower bolts 10, preferably arranged in pairs, asshown, and piercing the vertical bar or portion 2 and the side 9 of thewagon body. The inner approximately L-shaped arm 3 extends over theupper edge and down the inner face of the side 9 of the wagon body, andit embraces the upper portion of the side 9, being secured to the sameby the upper bolts 10, which pierce the downwardly extending portion ofthe arm 3. By this construction, the bearing bracket is securely mountedon the side of the wagon body, and it is also adapted to be readilyremoved therefrom by simply taking out the bolts 10, and it may beeasily applied to any wagon body, hay rack, stock rack, wood rack, orthe like.

The windlass shaft 8, which is vertically arranged, is preferablyconstructed of tubular metal, and it is provided at a point intermediateof its ends with a fixed collar 11, which is arranged upon the upperface of the upper bearing arm 4 against a smooth annular surface 12within an annular series of ratchet teeth 13, constituting a fixedratchet member and surrounding the upper bearing opening 6. The ratchetteeth are preferably formed on an enlargement or boss 14 of the upperbearing arm 4, but a fixed ratchet member of any other suitableconstruction may, of course, be employed. The upper portion of thewindlass shaft extends above the bearing bracket a suflicient distanceto arrange an upper crank handle 15 within easy reach of the seat 16when a top box 17 is employed, and the said windlass shaft is providedat its lower end with an extension 18, projecting below the lowerbearing arm 5 and adapted to be connected by a rope 19 or other flexibleconnection with a brake beam 20 for the purpose of moving the brakeshoes 21 positively out of contact with the vehicle wheels 22 when thebrake is released, whereby wear of the brake shoes is prevented. Thewindlass shaft is provided at its intermediate and lower portions withapproximately key hole slots or openings 23 and 2-1; the slot or opening23 is located immediately below the upper bearing arm 4, and it isadapted to receive one end of a flexible connection 25, consisting of arope, chain or analogous device and extending rearwardly from thewindlass shaft to an arm or lever 26 of the fiexi ble brake.

The Windlass shaft may be connected with any suitable brake mechanismand the winding of the flexible connection on the windlass shaft willswing the arm or lever 26 forwardly and apply the flexible brake in theusual manner. By means of the wind lass attachment, the brake may beapplied with great power, and when the brake is released, the windlassshaft is rotated to wind the lower flexible connection 19 on thedepending portion of the Windlass shaft to positively draw the brakeshoes away from the wheels. The rear end 27 of the flexible connection19 is designed to be secured to the brake beam 20 near the centralportion thereof, so as to exert a pull sufficiently near the center todraw both the brake shoes forwardly and prevent any swinging movement ofthe brake beam, causing one of the shoes to contact with the adjacentwheel. The front portions of the flexible'connections 19 and 25 arewound around the Windlass shaft in opposite directions, so that when theWindlass shaft is rotated, one of the flexible connections will be woundup on it and the other unwound from it, so that neither flexibleconnection will interfere with the operation of the other.

A rope or chain may be readily passed through the enlarged portion ofeither of the key hole slots or openings 23 and 2d, and after beingarranged in the opening, such rope or chain is engaged with the lowercontracted portion of the slot or opening and the winding of the rope orchain around the Windlass shaft will retain the former in engagementwith the latter. Also the flexible connections after being passedthrough the slots or openings 23 and 24 are adapted to prevent theWindlass shaft from being jolted out of the bearing bracket. Thedetachable connection between the ropes 19 and 25 will enable theWindlass shaft to be readily disconnected from the brake mechanism andremoved from the bearing bracket. This may be found of advantage when ahigh load of any material is placed on a vehicle, or when it is desiredto take the Windlass shaft out of the way while loading or unloading avehicle.

In practice the Windlass shaft will be constructed of tubular metal, sayan inch or an inch and a quarter in diameter or there about, and when itis removed from the bearing bracket, a long rod made from a sapling oreven the branch of a tree may be used as a Windlass shaft. In cutting orproviding such a rod, it is preferable to leave a fork at the top sothat the leg of the driver may be engaged with the upper portion of therod for controlling the brake.

The windlass shaft is locked against retrograde rotation by means of apivoted dog or lever 28, mounted on a pin 29 and extending through aspout or opening 30 in one side of the shaft 8 and having an innerupwardly extending terminal portion 31 and a downwardly extending outerterminal portion 32, beveled, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of thedrawing, and arranged to engage the ratchet teeth 13 of the fixedratchet member of the bearing bracket. The pivot 29 pierces the oppositeportions of the tubular Windlass shaft and passes through a perforation33 of the locking dog or lever. The upwardly extending terminal portion31 is adaptedto be engaged by an enlarged lower end 34-. of adepressible rod 35, consisting of upper and lower vertical portions anda horizontal connecting portion and located within the upper extendedportion of the Windlass shaft and also within the crank handle thereof,as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The upper end of the depressible rod is provided with a head or button 36, having a tubularshank 37, which forms a shoulder at its lower end against which bearsthe upper end of a coiled spring 38, housed within the upper portion ofthe crank handle and interposed between the lower end of the tubularshank 37 and a transverse fastening device 39 of the cranl handle. Thecrank handle is provided with a longitudinal slot 4-0, extending alongone side of the vertical portion of the crank handle and under thehorizontal portion thereof and adapted to facilitate the assembling ofthe parts in constructing the device. The fastening device 39, whichforms astop for the lower end of the spring, extends across the slot 10and connects the side. portions of the crank handle. The spring 38normally supports the head of the depressible rod above the upper end ofthe crank handleof the Windlass shaft, and when the rod 35 isdepressechits lower enlarged end. 34 forces the inner upwardly extendingterminal portion of the dog or lever 28 downwardly and lifts the outerportion of the lever out of engagement with the fixed ratchet member ofthe bearing bracket. The inner terminal portion 31 is preferablyrounded, as shown, to effect an easy operation of the locking dog orlever.

The Windlass attachment is adapted for use in connection with variouskinds of vehicle brakes, and it may be arranged for operation at the endof a wagon body or rack for use in connection with the class of brakes,which require a central longitudinal pull to apply them.

What is claimed is l. A Windlass attachment for vehicle brakes includinga bearing bracket comprising a vertical bar or portion adapted to fitagainst the outer face of the side of a wagon body or the like, an innerupper approximately L-shaped arm adapted to hook over the upper edge andfit against the inner face of the side of the wagon body or otherport-ion of a vehicle without interfering with the use of a top box,upper and lower outwardly extending arms having vertically alinedbearings, the upper bearing arm being also provided with a fixed ratchetmember lying beyond the said l.- shaped arms, a vertical Windlass shaftremovably arranged in the said bearings, a locking dog mounted on theWindlass shaft above the bearing bracket and arranged to engage theratchet member thereof, and means carried by the Windlass shaftandconnected with the dog for operating the same.

2. A windlass attachment for vehicle brakes including a bearing bracketprovided with means for mounting it on a vehicle and having outwardlyextending upper and lower arms provided with alined bearing openings,the upper arm being also pro vided with a fixed ratchet member, avertical Windlass shaft mounted in the bearing openings and providedwith a lower depending extension and having an extended upper portionprovided with a crank handle, means for connecting the lower extensionof the Windlass shaft at a point below the bearing bracket to a brakebeam for moving the brake shoes away from the wheels, separate means forconnecting the Windlass shaft at a point between the upper and lowerarms of the said bearing bracket with a brake for applying the same, alocking dog mounted on the Windlass shaft and arranged to engage thefixed ratchet member, and operating means connected with the said dogand carried by the Windlass shaft.

3. A Windlass attachment for vehicle brakes comprising a bearing brackethaving a fixed ratchet member, a vertical tubular windlass shaft mountedin the bearing bracket and provided with an upper crank handleconsisting of Vertical and horizontal portions, a locking leverpivotally mount-- ed on and extending into the tubular windlass shaftand having its outer portion arranged to engage the said fixed ratchetmember, and a yieldably mounted depressible rod extending longitudinallythrough the upper portion of the Windlass shaft and through the crankhandle thereof and having its lower end arranged to engage the lockinglever, the upper end of the depressible rod being extended above thecrank handle and adapted to be pressed downwardly to operate the lockinglever.

4t. 1 Windlass attachment for vehicle brakes comprising a bearingbracket having a fixed ratchet member, a tubular Windlass shaft mountedin the bearing bracket and provided at its upper end with a crank handlecomposed of vertical and horizontal portions and having a longitudinalopening extending along one side of the vertical portion and along theunderside of the horizontal portion of the crank handle, a locking leverpivotally mounted on the Windlass shaft and extending into the same, adepressible operating rod arranged within the upper portion of theWindlass shaft and within the crank handle thereof and composed of upperand lower upright portions and a horizontal connecting portion andextending above the crank handle and adapted to be pressed downwardly tooperate the locking lever, a coiled spring arranged within the verticalportion of the crank handle and yieldably supporting the depressiblerod, and a fastening device spanning the longitudinal opening andconnecting the sine portions of the crank handle and forming a stop forthe lower end of the coiled spring.

5. A Windlass attachment for vehicle brakes including a bearing bracketprovided with upper and lower horizontal arms having alined bearingopenings, the upper arm being also provided around its opening with anannular series of ratchet teeth and having a smooth annular portionlying between the ratchet teeth and the opening of the upper arm, avertical Windlass shaft extending through the openings of the said armsand provided at a point intermediate of its ends with a fixed collararranged upon the said smooth annular portion of the upper arm. andsupporting the Windlass shaft, the latter being extended above theratchet wheel and provided at its upper end with operating means, meanscarried by the windlass shaft for engaging the ratchet teeth, and meansfor connecting the windlass shaft with a brake.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoatlixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE PATTERSON CRUTCHFIELD. lVitnesses D. M. STAFFORD, B. C. SHARPE,Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

